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What is the smell coming from my air conditioner?

A moldy smelling odor coming from your air conditioner / heat pump is caused by mold and bacteria on the indoor evaporator coil and is sometimes referred to as dirty sock syndrome

If you haven't had your air conditioner or heat turned on for a while and you turn it back on, or if your heat pump goes into the defrost cycle it can smell similar to dirty gym socks.

Getting rid of the smell in your air conditioner

  1. Turn off the power to the unit - there is a dedicated shut off specifically for your air conditioner / heat pump system
  2. Change the air filters - depending on the age of your home, the size, type, location and frequency that you need to change your filters will vary.
    1. Homes that have filters located in interior registers should be changed at least every 60 days, but if you use your system more, have pets or allergies, you'll want to change them every 30 days.
    2. Homes that have filters located in the attic unit need to be changed about every 6 months
  3. Clean the condensate line on the outside unit with a mixture of bleach and water (1 part to 4)

    Maintaining your air conditioner to avoid smells

    Similar to the steps taken to remove the smell, you should regularly check & clean your condensate line.

    Tip: If the smell persists, consider contacting a professional to have your evaporator coils cleaned with a foaming coil cleaner, they get dirty with normal operation, but also when the ice defrosts and creates excess moisture. 

    This requires a portion of the air handler to be disassembled and should not be done if you do not have experience working with this type of equipment.